Motorcycle carrier attachment



R. sHPHARD MOTORCYCLE CARRIER A'IIACHMENI Dec. 13, 1949 2 -Shets-She ei 2 Filed Dec. 50, 1946 ATTQRNEY r INVENTOR. PAH/MONO \Sl/EPHHIPD Patented Dec. 13 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- MOTORCYCLE CARRIER ATTACHMENT Raymond Shephard, Denver, 0010.

Application December 30, 1946, Serial N0. 719,308 Claims. (01. 280-202) This invention relates to compartmented housings adapted to function in removable and replaceable association with motorcycles, bicycles, and the like, as carriers for the readily-accessible accommodation of packages, parcels, gear, tools, accessories, supplies, and analogous material desired to be transported, and has as an object to provide a novel construction and arrangement of elements constituting an improved such carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved compartmented housing adapted for convenient attachment to a tandem-wheeled vehicle as a carrier without impairment of the balance and functional characteristics of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved compartmented housing conveniently adjustable in attached relation with a tandem-wheeled vehicle to permit of ready access to the adjacent vehicle wheeland wheel mounting.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved housing attachment for tandemwheeled vehicles characterized by large carrying capacity in proportion to its weight and operation-hampering projection beyond an associated vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved housing attachment for tandemwheeled vehicles susceptible of mounting on and as a carrier for an associated vehicle with a minimum of vehicle alteration and modification.

A' further object of the invention is to provide an improved tandem-wheeled vehicle carrier attachment arranged to fully enclose, safe-guard, and protect material transportedtherein.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tandem-wheeled vehicle carrier attachment that is simple and inexpensive of manufacture from commonly-available materials, susceptible of practical embodiment in a wide variety of particular sizes and specific designs adapted for association with various makes and constructions of vehicles, efiicient, durable, and convenient in use, and effective to enlarge the utility of a vehicle wherewith associated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional I ment of the invention in position thereon ready for practical use. Figure 2 is an elevation of the rear portion of the assembly according to Figure 1 with the carrier unit of the invention at an alternative limit of its range of adjustment. Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail section, on an enlarged scale, through the hinge and related elements employed to connect the carrier unit forward end with the motorcycle frame. Figure 4 is a rear portion bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the assembly according to Figure 1. Figure 5 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail elevation, on a further enlarged scale, of the area indicated generally as embraced between the arrows 6-6 of Figure 5, otherwise concealed elements pertinent to the showing being indicated by broken lines.

The well-known utility and advantages of tandem-wheeled vehicles, such as bicycles and motorcycles, may be extended and enhanced through the association therewith of carriers for the reception and transportation of materials, parcels, and the like, not otherwise adapted for attachment to such vehicles, and the instant invention is directed to the provision of an improved carrier of substantial capacity readily attachable to a tandem-wheeled vehicle with operative security in such manner as to minimize impairment of the normal vehicle operations and functions and to interfere but little with the occasionally necessary vehicle maintenance and repair work.

In the construction of the improvement as shown, a conventional tandem-wheeled vehicle of motorcycle type is represented as including the usual frame l0, front wheel ll, rear wheel l2, engine l3, engine exhaust line l4, and saddle IS, in a customary operative association. Conforming with standard practice, rearwardly-extending members of the frame H] are formed as upper and lower forks, l6 and I1, respectively, disposed to embrace the forward portion of the wheel l2 and to converge into rigid engagement of their ends on each side of said wheel with and for the support of a bracket yoke 18 wherein the corresponding end of the wheel axle I9 is adjustably engaged, and a fender 20 protectively houses upper and forward portions of the wheel l2 within the spread of the fork l6 and in rigidly-supported relation with said fork and the bracket l8. 7

Giving effect to the concept of the invention and to provide means for mounting the improved carrier on and in the desired association with wardly in-av generally trian'gulariintegral web 23" adapted to overlie and be secured, as by means rupting the extent of said sheet material between frame members 25 being fitted with hinged, latchable doors 21 sized and positioned for convenient admission to the housing compartments. Fabricated as shown and described, the carrier body unit has a continuous hollow interior or compartment U-shaped in plan resulting from inter communication of the enclosure side and rear end sections and adapted for the reception of material to s te trailsribrtd introdii ibiet ieremtb thl'ough the" doors 21, which interior, if de sired, may be of a bolt 24, to a forward lower corner of the bracket l8 on its side of the wheel l2 when the" strut 22 is engaged against and 'to' laterally tra-" verse the fork l6 forwardly of the wheel l2 and its fender 2i} and beneath the rearward overhang of the saddle I5, the length of-the strut=22beirig such as to space the frames 2| apart a distance suitable for the frame disposition shown and de-" scribed without alteration of the vehicle main k frame and associated vehicl "cornponents,- Where the 'strut 22" traverssthe*fork-l6; it is fixedly "secured to? the fork" members in -any desired effective" manner',' 'as by"meansfof clamps, boltsicap screwsfior the like, thus'completingfsecure attachmenthf the supplemental-frame tothefrigi'df rear'wardly extending porti'on of the The fcar'ri'efbody'ofthe ihifentlon'is a unitary housing" defining and enclosing" compartments disposableonfeach"sidhn'd fto the rear of the; vehiclewheei "(2;aid body comprising a skeleton:

structural inem .zsydnd 25 shejet f Th bei's ZE m .t of

strength, number;and'sp'eciiidarrarfgement con-{- sistent with the contemplatedf mounting anti-useof the 7attachmentjand shame-mas are" assembledfpreferablyby interweldingfl todefine and outlinean upwardly and outwardlyfarched;bracedi unit of modified streamline ortear-drop form 4 characterizedby 'a'iiat boa-erran s downwardly andforwardly epenm'g wellsized totelescopically- {j receive"andaccommodate thi-rear wheel 'l2 andw =5 associated "elements'jof "the Vehicle uheretout is berszs is ofa ength-c nfi e ably exceedingthe diameterof the vehicle wheel '1 X m um. transverse fdimensionat 1 about the -rnidpoint-' "of its lengthficonverge's "forwardlyflto merge" into and shamans forwardlyemming "mouthf 'of well, and smoothly converges rearwardly to-a closed "endspaced outwardly awayffromthe rearwardblosedl'eind ortheunie welt: Certain of the members-25 are arranged in spaced opposition -in-' terioi-ly andto traverse theffulldepth of the unit along planes-constituting thfsidesiof' the imit Well and another of *the said -members connects f tra'nsversely of the unit betweeii'fupper' forward corners thereof in bridging 'relation across the upper end of the-well forwardly openingjmouth' tom; and well side and inner-end surfaces thereofare smoothly coveredwitli shet material 26, such as light-weight s'heet' metalgt'o eneitse'samframe and complete 'a housing-of the desired form and contour, the sheet material 26 extending across the 'uppr -areh or crow-Hof the unit to" bridge subdivided by means of bulkheads or partitions 28'into lesser, separate compartments of selected number;locationand capacities.

The carrier body, as a unit assembly, is adapted to fitbver'fembrace, and substantially house the rear wheel' liiand fender 2B of a vehicle equipped with the supplemental frame comprised from the ele'rfients'flj 22 and 23, said wheel and fender beingreceived withinthe body well with the body crownfjc qsiug los'ely 'adjac'erit" he fendefi and to relation for' -con dir'ia adjus'tme t andf for As opratiifeiy related with I g Y e W e, -the'- -un'it trarisve'rse"' franie member 25 at the upper margin Y of the wellfor- Y ward -opening*- pare-mere and 'losly ove'rli'es the strut 22 ofjthesupiiileiiih rel efizie'd -to-the vehicl'efiso that coii'i'plineritary hiri'ge members 29 forrnedon or fixed to said frame member and strutmaybe} cooperatively engag'es sy a pintle SB-t eompl te ahing'e co'r'ine'ctiori between-the vehicle'frarne thefforwa'r'd end f anaemia unit abeutf'wliih h said -uriit i'nay be- 'swungthrough alimi stern-ear ar,-'*-thereb i*engaging thecarrier unit with and for transport by the tie hicle while providing or" elevaticn of' 'sai'd unit out {of covering r elatibn with' "t ati'ozi effectivetbfp'ermit 'angu la r levatibn -of the 5 I claimasMy inVenti'on-fl 1. *Tl'ie hombinatioritandeni wheelewvehicle' of 'a rig-id; compare telescopically anu embr cihgly arranged about the vehieierearwneei up'per ortiorr in normed covering relation with the wheel mountingfi'an o uesaiiy nampisatebie fiiesrs remavsbry ane replfiblySbdiiii saic'l finit 'to the vehicle -for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative thereto and into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting.

-2. The combination with a tandem-wheeled vehicle of a rigid, supplemental frame secured to the vehicle frame rear portion, a rigid, compartmented, carrier unit telescopically and embracingly arranged about the vehicle rear wheel upper portion and said supplemental frame in normal covering relation withthe wheel mounting, and optionally-manipulatable means removably and replaceably securing said unit to said supplemental frame'for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative to the vehicle and into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting.

3. The combination with a tandem-wheeled vehicle of a rigid, compartmented, carrier unit telescopically and embracingly arranged about the vehicle rear wheel upper portion in normal covering relation with the wheel mounting, a hinge connecting between the unit upper forward margin and adjacent vehicle frame elements to mount said unit on and for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative to the vehicle and into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting, and optionally-manipulatable means for securing intermediate points of said unit to fixed elements of the vehicle rearwardly of said hinge.

4. The combination with a tandem-wheeled vehicle of a rigid, supplemental frame secured to the vehicle frame rear portion, a rigid, compartmented, carrier unit telescopically and embracingly arranged about the vehicle rear wheel upper portion and said supplemental frame in normal covering relation with the wheel mounting, a hinge connecting between the unit upper forward margin and an adjacent supplemental frame element to mount said unit on and for limited angular adjustment through a vertical are relative to the vehicle and into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting, and optionally-manipulatable means for securing intermediate points of said unit to elements of said supplemental frame rearwardly of said hinge.

5. A carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, comprising a rigid closed housing equipped with access doors, a forwardly and downwardly opening well longitudinally intersecting said housing for the accommodation of an associated vehicle rear wheel upper portion, and optionally-manipulatable means for removably and replaceably securing said housing to the vehicle in telescopically embracing relation with the rear wheel thereof to normally cover the wheel mounting and for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative thereto into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting.

6. A carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, comprising a rigid, supplemental frame securable to and in yoking relation with a vehicle frame rear portion, a rigid closed housing equipped with access doors, a forwardly and downwardly opening well longitudinally intersection said housing for the accommodation of said supplemental frame and an associated vehicle rear wheel upper portion, and optionallymanipulatable means for removably and replaceably securing said housing to said supplemental frame in telescopically embracing relation with the associated vehicle rear wheel to normally cover the wheel mounting and for lim- --ited angular adjustment through a vertical are relative thereto into'uncovring relation'with the said wheel mounting. I

7. A carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, comprising a rigid closed housing 5, equipped with access doors, -a forwardly and downwardly opening well longitudinally intersecting said housing for the accommodationof an associated vehicle rear wheel upper portion, a

hinge member on the upper limiting margin of the forwardly-opening housing well mouth connectible with vehicle frame elements to mount the housing in telescopically embracing relation with the associated vehicle rear wheel in normal covering relation withthe wheel mounting and 'for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative thereto into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting, and optionally-manipulatable means for securing intermediate points of said housing to fixed elements of the associated vehicle rearwardly of said hinge.

8. A carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, comprising a rigid, supplemental frame securable to and in yoking relation with a vehicle frame rear portion, a rigid closed housing equipped with access doors, a forwardly and downwardly opening well longitudinally intersecting said housing for the accommodation of said supplemental frame and an associated vehicle rear wheel upper portion, hinge members on the upper limiting margin of the forwardly-opening housing well mouth and a supplemental frame transverse member interconnectible to mount the housing in telescopically embracing relation with the supplemental frame and associated vehicle rear wheel in normal covering relation with the wheel mounting and for limited angular adjustment through a vertical arc relative thereto into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting, and optionally manipulatable means for securing intermediate points of said housing (to elements of said supplemental frame rearwardly of said hinge.

9. In a carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, a rigid, supplemental frame securable to and in yoking relation with a vehicle frame rear portion to dispose an intermediate element transversely of the vehicle frame and forwardly of the vehicle rear wheel, a rigid closed housing symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal median plane equipped with access doors and formed with a longitudinally-disposed, forwardly and downwardly opening well for the accommodation of said supplemental frame and an associated vehicle rear wheel upper portion in normal covering relation with the wheel mounting, means hingedly interconnecting a forward margin of said housing to said supplemental frame intermediate element for angular adjustment of said housing into uncovering relation with the said wheel mounting, and optionally-manipulatable means for securing intermediate points of the housing well side walls to rearward elements of said supplemental frame.

10. In a carrier attachment for tandem-wheeled vehicles, a rigid, supplemental frame securable to and in yoking relation with a vehicle frame rear portion to dispose an intermediate element transversely of the vehicle frame and forwardly of the vehicle rear wheel and rearward terminal elements adjacent said rear wheel axle ends, a rigid closed housing Symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal median plane equipped with access doors and formed with a longitudinally-disposed,

a forwardly and downwardly opening well for the accommodation of said supplemental frame and 

